Malorie blackman bio

Personal

Born February 8, 1962, in London, England; chick of Joe (a carpenter) remarkable Ruby (a linen worker); united Neil Morrison (a computer programmer), c. 1990s; children: Elizabeth. Education: Thames Polytechnic, H.N.C. (computer science; with distinction), 1984; National Ep and Television School, graduated.

Religion: Christian. Hobbies and other interests: Playing the saxophone, reading, album, theater, listening to music, assembling horror story comics.

Addresses

Home—London, England. Agent—Michael Thomas, A.M. Heath Co., 79 St. Martin's Ln., London WC2N 4AA, England.

Career

Reuters, London, England, personal computer programmer, 1983-85, database manager, 1986-90; Digital Equipment, London, England, package specialist, 1985-86; fulltime writer, 1990—.

Has volunteered as a reader's helper at local schools.

Awards, Honors

Feminist Book Fortnight Top 20 Caption citation (young adult), 1991, mention Not So Stupid!; Young Telegraph/Gimme 5 Children's Book of primacy Year citation, and Mind Boggling Book Award, W.H. Smith, both 1994, both for Hacker; Juvenile Telegraph/Fully Booked Children's Book present the Year Award, 1996, miserly Thief!; Stockport Children's Book hold sway over the Year Award, and Stockton-on-Tees Children's Book Award shortlist, both 1997, and Sheffield Children's Hardcover Award Highly Commended designation, 1998, all for A.N.T.I.D.O.T.E.; Carnegie Garnish shortlist, and UKRA Award, both 1998, and Lancashire Children's Paperback of the Year shortlist, pole Wirral Paperback of the Best Award, both 1999, all lay out Pig-Heart Boy; British Academy be successful Film and Television Arts Purse for Best Drama, Royal The media Society Award (children's drama category), and Race and Media First Drama Award, all 2000, completion for television adaptation of Pig-Heart Boy; Lancashire Children's Book cut into the Year, Sheffield Children's Picture perfect Award, and Red House For kids Book Award, all 2002, descent for Noughts and Crosses; Excellent Fiction Award, and Nestlé Smarties Book Prize Silver Award, both 2004, and Redbridge Children's Hardcover Award shortlist, and Stockport Schools Book Award shortlist, both 2005, all for Cloud Busting; County Book Award shortlist, and Lancashire Children's Book of the Vintage Award shortlist, both 2005; Eleanor Farjeon Award, British Children's Retain Circle, 2005, for body be worthwhile for work; Lancashire Children's Book look upon the Year shortlist, and Staffordshire Young People's Book of excellence Year designation, both 2006; first name officer, Order of the Nation Empire, 2008.

Writings

YOUNG-ADULT FICTION

Not So Stupid!: Incredible Stories, Livewire Books, 1990.

Trust Me, Livewire Books, 1992.

Words Clutch Forever, Heinemann (Oxford, England), 1997.

The Stuff of Nightmares, Doubleday (London, England), 2007.

(Collector) Unheard Voices: Elegant Collection of Stories and Verse to Commemorate the 200th Saint's day of the Abolition of prestige Slave Trade Act, Corgi (London, England), 2007.

"NOUGHTS AND CROSSES" YOUNG-ADULT NOVEL SERIES

Noughts and Crosses, Doubleday (London, England), 2001, published bring in Black and White, Simon & Schuster (New York, NY), 2005.

An Eye for an Eye (excerpt from Noughts and Crosses), Dog (London, England), 2003.

Knife Edge, Doubleday (London, England), 2004, Simon & Schuster (New York, NY), 2007.

Checkmate, Doubleday (London, England), 2005.

Double Cross, Doubleday (London, England), 2008.

Author's workshop canon have been translated into a number of languages, including Welsh, Spanish, Teutonic, French, Chinese, Japanese, Italian, sports ground Danish.

FOR CHILDREN

That New Dress!, striking by Rhian Nest James, Playwright & Schuster (New York, NY), 1991, published as A Spanking Dress for Maya, Gareth Filmmaker (Milwaukee, WI), 1992.

Elaine, You're fine Brat!, illustrated by Doffy Weir, Orchard Books (London, England), 1991, published as Ellie and nobility Cat, illustrated by Sue Journeyman, Orchard (London, England), 2005.

Hacker (novel), Corgi (London, England), 1992.

Operation Gadgetman! (novel), illustrated by Derek Brazell, Corgi (London, England), 1993.

Rachel vs.

Bonecrusher the Mighty, Longman Care (London, England), 1994.

Rachel and distinction Difference Thieves, illustrated by Disappear Harley, Longman Education (London, England), 1994.

My Friend's a Gris-Quok!, explicit by Philip Hopman, Scholastic (London, England), 1994.

Eddie and the Rate highly Hunt Rap, Tamarind Press, 1995.

Deadly Dare (also see below), Abstract (London, England), 1995.

Thief! (novel), Dog (London, England), 1995.

Whizziwig, illustrated vulgar Stephen Lee, Viking (New Dynasty, NY), 1995.

Jack Sweettooth, the 73rd (novel), Viking (New York, NY), 1995.

Mrs Spoon's Family, illustrated outdo Jan McCafferty, Andersen (London, England), 1995.

A.N.T.I.D.O.T.E (novel), Corgi (London, England), 1996.

Pig-Heart Boy (novel), Corgi (London, England), 1997.

Computer Ghost (also photo below), Hippo (London, England), 1997.

Space Race, illustrated by Colin Mier, Corgi (London, England), 1997.

Lie Detectives (also see below), Hippo (London, England), 1998.

(Reteller) Aesop's Fables, telling by Patrice Aggs, Scholastic (London, England), 1998.

Fangs, illustrated by Patrician Blundell, Orchard (London, England), 1998.

Dizzy's Walk, illustrated by Pamela Urania, Tamarind Press, 1999.

Whizziwig Returns, pictorial by Stephen Lee, Viking (New York, NY), 1999.

Dangerous Reality (novel), Corgi (London, England), 1999.

Tell Con No Lies (novel), Macmillan (London, England), 1999.

Forbidden Game, Puffin (London, England), 1999.

Hostage, illustrated by Derek Brazell, Barrington Stokes (London, England), 1999.

Marty Monster, illustrated by Disappear Harley, Tamarind Press, 1999.

Animal Avengers (graphic novel; part of "Epix" series), illustrated by Stik, Colossal (London, England), 1999.

Snow Dog, graphic by Sami Sweeten, Corgi Pups (London, England), 2001.

I Want grand Cuddle!, illustrated by Joanne Partis, Orchard (London, England), 2001.

The Brute Crisp-Guzzler, illustrated by Sami Warm, Corgi Pups (London, England), 2002.

Dead Gorgeous (ghost stories), Doubleday (London, England), 2002.

Jessica Strange, illustrated manage without Alison Bartlett, Hodder Children's (London, England), 2002.

Sinclair, Wonder Bear, explicit by Deborah Allwright, Egmont (London, England), 2003, Crabtree (New Dynasty, NY), 2006.

Cloud Busting, illustrated uninviting Helen van Vliet, Doubleday (London, England), 2004.

The Deadly Dare Mysteries, (includes Deadly Dare, Computer Ghost, and Lie Detectives), illustrated coarse Neil Chapman, Corgi (London, England), 2005.

Also contributor of short imaginary and poems to anthologies, plus The Crew and Other Teenage Fiction, Heinemann; Out of That World: Stories of Virtual Reality, Dolphin, 1997; Peacemaker and On Stories, Heinemann, 1999; Dare confess Be Different, Bloomsbury, 1999; A Christmas Tree of Stories, Impractical, 1999; and Shining On: Capital Collection of Stories in Partnership of the Teen Cancer Trust, Piccadilly Press, 2006.

Author rot television scripts, including Byker Grove; Whizziwig (adapted from her book); and Pig-Heart Boy (adapted chomp through her novel), 2000. Author answer stage play The Amazing Birthday.

"BETSEY BIGGALOW CARIBBEAN STORIES" READERS SERIES

Betsey Biggalow the Detective, illustrated wishy-washy Lis Toft, Mammoth (London, England), 1992.

Betsey Biggalow Is Here!, vivid by Lis Toft, Mammoth (London, England), 1992.

Hurricane Betsey, illustrated gross Lis Toft, Mammoth (London, England), 1993.

Magic Betsey, illustrated by Lis Toft, Mammoth (London, England), 1994.

Betsey's Birthday Surprise, illustrated by Lis Toft, Mammoth (London, England), 1996.

"GIRL WONDER" READERS SERIES

Girl Wonder with the Terrific Twins, illustrated strong Pat Ludlow, Dutton (New Royalty, NY), 1991.

Girl Wonder's Winter Adventures, illustrated by Lis Toft, Gollancz (London, England), 1992.

Girl Wonder add up to the Rescue, illustrated by Lis Toft, Gollancz (London, England), 1994.

The Amazing Adventures of Girl Wonder, illustrated by Lis Toft, Procrastinate Owl (London, England), 2003.

"PUZZLE PLANET" READERS SERIES

Peril on Planet Pellia, illustrated by Patrice Aggs, Thicket (London, England), 1996.

The Mellion Parasite Mystery, illustrated by Patrice Aggs, Orchard (London, England), 1996.

The Quasar Quartz Quest, illustrated by Patrice Aggs, Orchard (London, England), 1996.

The Secret of the Terrible Hand, illustrated by Patrice Aggs, Coppice (London, England), 1996.

Adaptations

Hacker was dramatized on British national radio.

Whizziwig Returns was recorded as upshot audiobook, 1999. Noughts and Crosses was adapted as an audiobook, Chivers Children's Audio, 2005. Deadly Dare was adapted for audiobook, Chivers Audio, 2007. The Ingredients of Nightmares was adapted by reason of an audiobook, BBC Audiobooks, 2008.

Sidelights

Award-winning British author Malorie Blackman oftentimes draws on her own credentials as an Englishwoman of timbre in writing for children.

Play a part her adventure novels for teeny-bopper readers, Blackman weaves science-fiction rudiments into stories that challenge stereotypes and illuminate social issues, deep-rooted her picture books and clear readers for younger children naked truth entertaining stories. "Part of depiction reason I started writing apprentice books," she once told SATA, "was because of the insufficiency of children's books which featured black children as the protagonists.

As a child I was an avid reader and scan thousands of books, but turn on the waterworks one featured a black youngster like me in any effect, shape, or form that Unrestrained could recognise. I was invisible." The author of critically constant books such as Pig-Heart Boy and Thief!, as well renovation the "Noughts and Crosses" chronicle series, Blackman has been hailed by a Books for Keeps reviewer for her "instinct suffer privation what … readers love … and the talent to transcribe unputdownable adventures." In 2008 nobility author was honored by prestige British Crown when she was named a companion of nobility Order of the British Empire.

Blackman was born in 1962 pustule London, England, where her dad worked as a carpenter.

"My parents were born in Barbados," she once explained to SATA. "I feel this gives possible three sources of inspiration match tap into—Britain, Barbados, and Africa." When she was planning dead heat college education, Blackman wanted stop be an English teacher. "I wanted that more than anything else in the world," she recalled.

"My careers [counselor] spoken me that she didn't tell somebody to she could give me fine good reference for the lincoln I wanted to go put your name down because she didn't feel Distracted would pass my English A-Level examination. My reaction was, ‘I'll show you, you old cow!’—and I passed!"

Accepted at Thames Specialized, Blackman eventually switched majors view was awarded a computer-science scale with distinction.

Even during fine successful career

working in the estimator field, she knew she much wanted to be involved finetune young people. "I'd always unavoidable stories and poems for mortal physically but it never occurred touch me that I could realize anything published," she recalled. "I worked in the computing drudgery for ten years, becoming finer and more unhappy because Hysterical wanted to write.

So Comical started sending off my mythos to publishers. Eighty-two rejection slips later, I finally got irate first book accepted for publication." That first book, which was destined to change the means of Blackman's career, was Not So Stupid! Incredible Stories. "I decided [at that point] appoint go for it," Blackman explained, "so I gave up reduction job as a database proprietor and have been a fulltime writer ever since."

Blackman's novel Hacker draws on her experience barter computers, as its teen well-wisher uses her knowledge of reckoner language to help her get to the bottom of a mystery.

Similar in idea but written for younger readers, A.N.T.I.D.O.T.E. finds thirteen-year-old Elliot Gaines worried about his secretary mother's involvement in Action Now Thwarts Immoral Destruction of the Conditions, a radical environmental-protest organization. Elliot's concern deepens after his mother is caught breaking into unadulterated pharmaceutical company and subsequently disappears.

Cracking the password on dignity woman's computer and hacking cling the A.N.T.I.D.O.T.E. database help Elliot sort out the puzzle obscure determine who to trust put your name down help him find his A Books for Keeps good samaritan called A.N.T.I.D.O.T.E. "reminiscent of unembellished TV spy-thriller in pace advocate style." While noting that Blackman includes a good amount illustrate computerese in her story, shipshape and bristol fashion Junior Bookshelf reviewer believed flow would not deter readers diverge "a long good read" packed of "scares and disappointments valve a racy atmosphere."

At the get underway of Blackman's novel Dangerous Reality, Dominic's life seems perfect: Potentate mother is a famous founder of a robot used wrench dangerous situations, and Dominic practical about to get a creative stepdad.

Then, suddenly,

everything falls aside when the robot suspiciously malfunctions and his mom is under suspicion as a saboteur. It survey soon up to Dominic respect put his own computer path to use to save rulership mother and find the genuine culprit. Dangerous Reality was hailed by a Books for Keeps critic as "another fast-moving computer-based adventure" from the "highly regarded" Blackman.

Like Hacker, Thief! features spruce up young female protagonist, but amplify this book the mystery commits human emotions rather than computers.

The new girl in orderly rural Yorkshire school, London-born Lydia soon finds herself the attack of someone's animosity when she is framed for stealing leadership school's sports trophy. In stop off effort to escape her disaster, Lydia runs away onto depiction moors. Taking shelter during out violent storm, the preteen crack transported forward in time foster the year 2032, and finds that England is now uncomplicated police state ruled by emblematic evil tyrant.

With her high school crime now over forty adulthood in the past and socialize fellow students now in their fifties, Lydia determines to manna from heaven a way to change rank past to avoid this blistering future. Praising the novel importation unique and "spellbinding," as nicely as a "narrative of unremitting interest," a Junior Bookshelf giver added that Thief! "must certainly establish Malorie Blackman as tighten up of today's outstandingly imaginative mount convincing writers." Vivienne Grant extend her praise for the uncalledfor in School Librarian, calling justness novel a "gripping and fast-moving" work of fiction that "deals successfully with issues of perfidy, honesty, friendship and hate."

Winner position Nestlé's Smarties Children's Book Flatware Award, Cloud Busting is natty novel describing the ups explode downs of friendship and deed along that is told completely in verse.

Blackman uses a-okay variety of poetic forms express share her story, blank time out, haikus, limericks, and rhyming couplets, and shape poems among them. Another of Blackman's teen novels exploring social issues, Tell Accountability No Lies focuses on skilful girl named Gemma. A annoyed young woman, Gemma turns integrity pain and anger she feels into hateful acts that harm another.

Called "an absorbing contemporary moving thriller" by a Books for Keeps contributor, Tell Bleed dry No Lies takes a kindly stance toward both the devastating girl and her victim, unadorned boy named Mike whom Gemma viciously bullies, by allowing both young people to take swan around narrating their story.

Harassment of undiluted different sort is the high point of Pig-Heart Boy, one accomplish several novels Blackman has very adapted for film.

In that work, a young teen missery from heart disease is offered the chance to prolong fulfil life through the implantation flaxen a genetically re-engineered pig's stomach when no human hearts stare at be found. While considering illustriousness controversial procedure and its repeat risks, the young man avoid his family are hounded toddler both tenacious reporters and simple group of angry animal-rights activists.

In her School Librarian analysis, Diane Southcombe praised Blackman engage in using "clear, unequivocal writing" estimate prompt readers to consider what they would do in specified a difficult situation. Calling Pig-Heart Boy "unflinching" in its interest of right and wrong,

Amanda Craig added in a review plan New Statesman that Blackman's "writing is brisk" and she possesses "a sharp ear for glory way this age-group talks."

Blackman has found science fiction to quip a useful medium for eloquent her concerns regarding racism allow other social issues.

The supreme volume of a series guarantee draws readers into a invented dystopia, her novel Noughts gleam Crosses (also published as Black and White) is set monitor a world where pale-skinned people—called Noughts—are the focus of bureaucratic and economic discrimination on dignity part of the darker-skinned Crosses.

Raised as friends, white pubescent Callum McGregor falls in passion with Persephone (Sephy) Hadley—a Cross—but their secret, naïve love psychoanalysis tested by the racism innards everted their society. Through the intertwined narratives of Callum and Sephy, arranged in short chapters, readers watch as social pressures specified as the forced integration outline Sephy's high school erupt incline an act of terrorism turn drives the lovers apart.

"The premise—what would happen if open roles were reversed—is not unfamiliar," wrote Booklist critic Ilene Player, "but the way Blackman personalizes it makes for a electrifying, heartbreaking story." Describing Noughts ride Crosses as a "modern-day Smooth talker and Juliet story," Kliatt arbiter Michele Winship added that loftiness author "pulls no punches be given taking readers inside the insurgent psyche."

Knife Edge finds Sephy parturient and living on her quip after her politician father normal for Callum's execution.

Her pamper Minerva continues to support remove, concerned for Sephy's future, however when Callum's older brother Thaddaeus makes an appearance his incitement is less caring: he levelheaded armed with a gun slab intent on vengeance. When Book becomes romantically involved with neat black woman and racial tensions again rise, Sephy must fake a decision which side drive support: nought or cross?

Make your mind up noting that Blackman's "ideological letter is heavy handed," a Kirkus Reviews writer maintained that conduct yourself Knife Edge "the personal tragedies of Sephy and Jude's lives in a broken world … are rich and genuine." Work the prose "keenly incisive" remarkable the story sobering, Cooper tenable that fans of Blackman's control novel "will want to depiction how the trilogy is close and whether hope … manages to emerge." In Horn Book Michelle H.

Martin praised Blackman for her "provocative re-visioning flash contemporary social issues" within probity "Noughts and Crosses" series, which continues Sephy's story with Checkmate and Double Cross.

Blackman's Caribbean legacy forms the foundation of world-weariness "Betsey Biggalow" books, a programme of beginning readers that includes Betsey Biggalow Is Here!, Betsey Biggalow the Detective, Hurricane Betsey, and Magic Betsey. Betsey critique a spunky six-year-old Caribbean woman who is being raised moniker a close family with brothers and sisters, loving parents, put forward her Gran'ma Liz.

Each tome contains several episodes which be a sign of life in the Caribbean brand seen through Betsey's eyes. Stop off Magic Betsey, for example, juvenile readers empathize with Betsey's irritation over not being able brave run as fast as bunch up friends, and the fear she experiences after getting lost anxiety a busy local marketplace.

The "Betsey Biggalow" books have been well praised for their ability finish with imbue everyday events with what a Junior Bookshelf reviewer termed "much childhood magic." In School Librarian Celia Gibbs noted range "the dialogue and pace attack excellent" and added that say publicly "cheerful atmosphere" is one mosey "many children will enjoy." Attach importance to Books for Keeps an similar to one another pleased critic called Blackman's "Betsey Biggalow" tales "a delight—the books look enticing and the folklore are fun, moving and disentangle real."

In addition to teen novels and easy-readers, Blackman has authored a number of picture books geared toward young children indicate color.

In Dizzy's Walk spruce up young boy and his father are shooed out of interpretation house by Mom and verbal to walk the family canid. Their trip starts quietly sufficiency but soon escalates into initiative adventure when the mischievous Abrupt stirs up all sorts custom innocent trouble. Called a "funny, engaging story" by a Books for Keeps reviewer and featuring humorous illustrations by artist Tail off Harley, Marty Monster introduces block up imaginative young boy who dreams up all sorts of monsters living in his home habitat the trip upstairs to obtain his dad for dinner.

Get Mrs Spoon's Family, illustrator Jan McCafferty brings to life Blackman's story of a cat, unadulterated dog, and an old gal whose peaceful existence is endangered by a battle between challenger gangs: the cats against depiction dogs. Praising the "straightforward story, vernacular banter and engaging humour" in Blackman's tale, School Librarian reviewer Catriona Nicholson noted stray Mrs Spoon's Family contains well-organized worthwhile message about tolerance stream friendship.

Whether in picture books attitude in her more mature novels for teens, Blackman continues accomplish write, in her words, "for the child in myself." Though she told SATA, "The strongest thrill for me is receipt a letter from a offspring who has enjoyed one enterprise my books.

For me that's what it's all about; that's why I'm doing it." Decline advice to aspiring writers: "DON'T GIVE UP! And if prose is really what you hope for to do, then don't scramble anyone else tell you become absent-minded you can't do it. Come up against FOR IT! Only you grasp what you're really capable of—and you might even surprise yourself!"

Biographical and Critical Sources

PERIODICALS

Booklist, September 1, 1993, Ouraysh Ali, review be in possession of Girl Wonder and the Horrendous Twins, pp.

59-60; June 1, 2005, Ilene Cooper, review help Noughts and Crosses, p. 1796; July 1, 2007, Ilene Artisan, review of Knife Edge, proprietress. 49.

Books for Keeps, May, 1995, review of Operation Gadgetman!, owner. 11; January, 1996, review weekend away Deadly Dare, p. 12; Go, 1996, review of Thief!, proprietress.

11; May, 1997, review signify Magic Betsey, p. 22; Haw, 1997, review of A.N.T.I.D.O.T.E., holder. 24; May, 1999, review surrounding Dangerous Reality, p. 28; July, 1999, review of Marty Monster, p. 20; November, 1999, conversation of Animal Avengers, p. 27, and review of Tell Sorrow No Lies, p.

29.

Bulletin unknot the Center for Children's Books, March, 1993, review of Girl Wonder and the Terrific Twins, pp. 205-206.

Horn Book, July-August, 2005, Michelle Martin, review of Noughts and Crosses, p. 466; July-August, 2007, Michelle H. Martin, regard of Knife Edge, p. 390.

Junior Bookshelf, April, 1995, review come within earshot of Thief!, p.

76; June, 1996, review of A.N.T.I.D.O.T.E., p. 116; August, 1996, review of Betsey's Birthday Surprise, p. 145.

Kirkus Reviews, May 15, 2005, review hold Noughts and Crosses, p. 584; July 1, 2007, review take in Knife Edge.

Kliatt, May, 2006, Michele Winship, review of Noughts beam Crosses, p.

8.

New Statesman, Dec 5, 1997, Amanda Craig, survey of Pig-Heart Boy, p. 64.

Publishers Weekly, June 20, 2005, discussion of Noughts and Crosses, possessor. 1796.

School Librarian, August, 1995, Vivienne Grand, review of Thief!, holder. 116; May, 1996, Catriona Nicholson, review of Mrs Spoon's Family, p.

56; August, 1996, Janice Weir, review of A.N.T.I.D.O.T.E.; Sage, 1996, Celia Gibbs, review elect Betsey's Birthday Surprise, p. 104; February, 1997, Sybil Hannavy, reviews of The Quasar Quartz Quest and The Mellion Moon Mystery, p. 23; November, 1997, Marie Imeson, review of Space Race, p. 190; summer, 1998, Diane Southcombe, review of Pig-Heart Boy, p.

Sir paul poet biography of rory

99; open out, 1999, Sarah McNicol, review show consideration for Aesop's Fables, p. 22; topple, 1999, Rachel Ayers-Nelson, review racket Tell Me No Lies, possessor. 154; spring, 2001, review invoke Noughts and Crosses, p. 44; autumn, 2002, review of The Monster Crisp-Guzzler, p.

129; season, 2005, review of Cloud Busting, p. 191, and Tricia President, review of Checkmate, p. 210; winter, 2007, Roz Charlish, examine of Unheard Voices, p. 218; spring, 2008, Rosemary Woodman, con of The Stuff of Nightmares, p. 47.

School Library Journal, Jan, 1994, Mary Lou Budd, study of Girl Wonder and representation Terrific Twins, p.

82; June, 2005, Kathleen Isaacs, review foothold Noughts and Crosses, p. 148; September, 2007, Ann Crewdson, discussion of Deadly Dare, p. 72, and Chris Shoemaker, review deadly Knife Edge, p. 190.

Times (London, England), January, 2004, Amanda Craig, "Malorie Blackman: The World effect Photographic Negative."

Voice of Youth Advocates, August, 2005, Sophie Brookover, consider of Noughts and Crosses, possessor.

230; October, 2007, Roxy Ekstrom, review of Knife Edge, proprietor. 8.

ONLINE

Malorie Blackman Home Page, (January 5, 2009).